Muscle Vs. Fat Loss...does It Help?

It's a common question we hear every day in the gym... Does muscle help burn fat and can I eat whatever I want as long as I am gaining muscle?

Gym junkies like me are on a quest to shape our bodies into the best possible shape they can be. While it is true that muscle does burn calories, for the most part it is not enough to burn off a bad eating habit nor is it enough if you are not getting in a good cardio exercise. What you end up with is muscle underneath a layer of fat.

Personal experience with muscle building…

Winter months are hard to get through. I had a bad habit of burning off energy at the gym with some heavy weight lifting, but killing it with my eating habits...whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. So I had the right idea in going to the gym, but I did not see much of my body fat go away. Of course I built muscle, but it wasn't until I started eating healthy meals (in healthy portion sizes!) and incorporating cardio into my routine that I actually saw the fat fall off.

What about having a little fun…

Most cities have many good restaurants and fun things to do that include eating. Although muscle does not burn a huge amount of calories, it does however give you the opportunity to go out and have a little fun. For example, with an increased metabolism and muscle burning calories at its slow pace, you are able to go out and have a hamburger with friends/family every once in a while without having to go buy bigger pants in the morning. Keep in mind that once in a while is not three days out of the week :-). For me it is nice to have a little fun in my eating. It makes my workout that much more rewarding knowing that I can go out with friends or family every once in awhile without consequences or regret. I look forward to that time and it also motivates me to eat better and workout harder. Not to mention I feel really good about me.

The Bottom Line…

The bottom line is if you want to shed unwanted fat you have to eat healthy. Gaining muscle will exponentially help with that fat loss but in order to see real results you need to eat healthy portioned meals along with that good workout schedule that is building/toning that muscle. A well thought through workout and eating plan was necessary to live like this. Hanging on to a disciplined schedule is the key. Working out sporadically as well as eating healthy sporadically simply does not work. I was able to gain the muscle I wanted and lose the fat by following such a schedule. You can too with a little motivation in the right direction (and if you need help with some guidelines to getting started, maybe it'd be worth checking in to a fitness expert who specializes in diet and exercise.)